Mayor Lester Miller, the Community Foundation of Central Georgia, and other partners and leaders will announce the fourth round of Macon Violence Prevention (MVP) program grants at a press conference on Thursday, January 15, at 11:30 a.m. in Commission Chambers in City Hall (700 Poplar Street). The press conference will be broadcast live at www.facebook.com/maconbibbcounty.

“In just a few years, we have put millions of dollars toward improving public safety, including funding local community organizations to work directly with children and families,” says Mayor Lester Miller. “While the number of homicides continues to decrease, we must not cease our efforts because there is a name, a person, a family, a community behind every number. And it’s for those people and our community that we continue this work.”

Since the inception of MVP in 2021, $2,541,000 has been awarded to 53 different organizations’ missions to help transform the lives of children, families, and entire neighborhoods. This money supported afterschool programs, camps, mentor programs, family development sessions, literacy outreach, and more. By investing in prevention and support, these programs helped reduce violent crime and build safer neighborhoods. From 2022 to 2024, Macon-Bibb County saw a 45% decrease in the homicide rate and an 87% decrease in homicides among those under the age of 18.

“We recognize that this is a long-term effort,” Kathryn Dennis, President of the CFCGA says. “The challenges of violent crime were not created overnight, and they will not be solved overnight. This work requires persistence, partnership, and the understanding that real change takes time.”

Grantees have also benefited from five Collaborative Learning Exchanges where they could all connect, share insights, and learn from experts. It also provided them the opportunity to work together with their funds to have a deeper impact on the people they were serving.

“I want to thank every person and group that has stepped forward with action, not just words, to make lives better for people in Macon-Bibb County,” adds Mayor Miller. “This is who we are as a community…we show up for each other. We support each other. And we work together for a shared future.”

Macon-Bibb County has spent more than $21 million on Macon Violence Prevention programs, grants, initiatives, personnel, equipment, and more to help reduce the homicide rate and have fewer people suffer in this way. In addition to the grants through the Community Foundation of Central Georgia, there has been $1.7 million for no cost / low barrier mental health services, nearly $8,000,000 for public safety incentive pay, public safety salary increases, nearly $4.5 million for camera systems (ShotSpotter, Flock, Verkada), $1.65 million for violence interruption organizations, and more.